It's my first time actually trying to breed my budgies. Before they were too young and I didn't want to cause extra trouble for myself so I waited.

By hen 'Doormat' laid her first egg on Saturday, and her second on Monday. It is now Thursday and there is not another egg yet. Could it just be late? She is continuosly going into the nestbox (I assume she's incubating) but i picked her up and there doesn't seem to be any sign of 'egg bum'.

 

Also, I think she might be incubating empty eggs. I managed to get a picture of one with a candeling torch, but i can't tell you if its the Saturday egg or Monday egg (should I mark them in future?)

 

These are the two eggs

 

And this is the middle one candled

 

To me it looks clear...but if this is the Monday egg then could it be maybe too early to tell? I went back to try and get a picture of the other egg (I came inside to see if the pictures worked) but 'Doormat' had gone back in the nest and I didn't want to disturb her.

 

Is it possible that they are also out of condition? Hence the clear look of the egg?

 

This is Doormat (left) and Vomity Pie (right)

 

and are these birds (my other pair I'm hoping to breed) in or out of condition?

 

Its hard to see Doormat's cere in the first picture, but I couldn't get her to turn around. Its basically the same colour as Overcast (hen in second photo)

 

I will try and get a photo of the other egg candled later.

 

Thanks for the help

It's my first time actually trying to breed my budgies. Before they were too young and I didn't want to cause extra trouble for myself so I waited.

By hen 'Doormat' laid her first egg on Saturday, and her second on Monday. It is now Thursday and there is not another egg yet. Could it just be late? She is continuosly going into the nestbox (I assume she's incubating) but i picked her up and there doesn't seem to be any sign of 'egg bum'.

 

Also, I think she might be incubating empty eggs. I managed to get a picture of one with a candeling torch, but i can't tell you if its the Saturday egg or Monday egg (should I mark them in future?)

 

These are the two eggs

 

And this is the middle one candled

 

To me it looks clear...but if this is the Monday egg then could it be maybe too early to tell? I went back to try and get a picture of the other egg (I came inside to see if the pictures worked) but 'Doormat' had gone back in the nest and I didn't want to disturb her.

 

Is it possible that they are also out of condition? Hence the clear look of the egg?

 

This is Doormat (left) and Vomity Pie (right)

 

and are these birds (my other pair I'm hoping to breed) in or out of condition?

 

Its hard to see Doormat's cere in the first picture, but I couldn't get her to turn around. Its basically the same colour as Overcast (hen in second photo)

 

I will try and get a photo of the other egg candled later.

 

Thanks for the help

Look i am not sure if this is much help to you ,but here goes.That dominant pied cock looks to me like it has a severe nip in the back of the neck ,not something that you would want to breed into your birds,but if you just want to breed some budgerigars to gain experience,fine.Both hens, to me look like they are probably past breeding condition.Most breeders i know,when not breeding spend the rest of the year getting there birds fit for breeding season.Giving them the best of everything ,corn,carrots,endives,beetroot B12 tracemin vitamins etc plus the best seed possible.When the birds are fit,it will will be obvious.The cocks will be bouncing off the perches tapping there beaks on everything & the hens will be chewing everything.When they start carrying on like that,separate the hens from the cocks for a couple of weeks ,then put them down to breed.What i do after the first egg is laid is,i get then hen off the egg and put her in the breeding cage & block off the hole ,when i witness mating taking place then i allow her back in.I also trim the vents of both hen & cock "between rounds also"by doing this it increases the chances of fertility.I have recently changed my feeding ,instead of feeding them mixed millets i now feed the millets in separate dishes.They get red pannicum,jap millet,canary,french white,hulled oats,& believe me the mess is now minimal & the cost saving is fantastic as they don't scratch through the mixed millet looking for the seed they want .Somedays they attack the french white & other days the hit red pannicum and so on,i wished i had done it years ago.I hope some of this info helps cheers Phill

I'm not exactly sure what a nip is (I'm assuming its what looks to be a slight dip in his back line)...but I took this photo while he was grooming himself, so I think it might be just unfortunate timing. http://i608.photobucket.com/albums/tt169/PeridotKitty/Birds/_MG_0050.jpg This is him just standing regularly. His brother was a champion, and I got him for free...but I'm not too worried about his show qualities (like you said I am just breeding for the experience for now)

 

Before attaching their nest boxes I was making sure they were fit as a fiddle. I gave them plenty of fresh greens and hulled oats (to fatten them up a bit).

At the moment the blue male (in the bottom photo) taps his beak on the cage bars and sings on a regular basis. I also have another pair that I've put together...the cock is constantly trying to mount her, but she doesn't seem to appreciate it very much. She is a funny hen as she has so far not acquired a brown cere...and she's approaching 12 months of age. I did some reading though and think she may just be a white cere hen.

 

What do you think about the eggs look? Do you think its infertile as well?

I have the red millet mixed in my seed Phill and I am giving them Jap millet seperate and boy do they love it. It has cut back how fast I go threw my seed. I was going to buy a bag of red millet, still might.

she doesn't seem to appreciate it very much. She is a funny hen as she has so far not acquired a brown cere...and she's approaching 12 months of age. I did some reading though and think she may just be a white cere hen.

 

 

I would remove this hen from breeding and not breed her until she does get a brown cere, no matter how long it takes. This may indicate she has some form of a hidden health concern going on. She shouldnt be in a breeding cage anyway.

Something I probably should of mentioned prior to putting a breeding box on her cage lol Thanks Kaz

I'll keep a close eye on her. I'll put Gandalf (was in with her) in the flight as well and see if he gets on with my grey spangle hen. I think they would make beautiful babies when she's ready

I have a little thing I go by , When the third egg is layed the first egg should be showing signs of fertility. I have been checking this for years and now I dont even wait , I throw the first egg if there are no fertile signs after the third egg is layed.

The problem is I can't remember which one was the first lol Should I mark the eggs? Is it safe?

 

I will try and get a picture of both eggs candled tomorrow. The other problem is i have no idea what to look for in a fertile egg. I've seen photos yes...but when it comes to minuscule telltale signs that experienced breeders might pick up...I'm basically in the dark

I mark the eggs as they are laid, ( Every afternoon) , You can use a lead pencil. But I use a waterbased marker.

As you can see with the egg you have candled there isnt much going on , But you will see it when it does the egg first will have a distinct change in colour more like a glow. then the Heart and veins appear( Red) , You will Know it when you see it.

For you at the moment leave all the eggs and watch and observe. Have Fun.

Doormat laid her 3rd egg today. I good 4 days since the second one Quite a big gap but I'm not complaining.

 

Again, I went out there to get some photos but of course I have no idea which egg is which. Not to mention my camera was seriously struggling with the lack of light (it was getting quite frustrating after a while)

 

Here are the eggs

 

And I managed to get one very blurry photo of an egg candled. Stupid Camera

 

Now, this could just be my brain as it does want these eggs to be fertilised....but is that a vein i see?

I mark the eggs as they are laid, ( Every afternoon) , You can use a lead pencil. But I use a waterbased marker.

As you can see with the egg you have candled there isnt much going on , But you will see it when it does the egg first will have a distinct change in colour more like a glow. then the Heart and veins appear( Red) , You will Know it when you see it.

For you at the moment leave all the eggs and watch and observe. Have Fun.

i actually agree with matt as sometimes the birds dont sit on eggs even in in out the box till they have layed like 5 or 4 so i leave them all and check at 8 days :} ive had many chicks more this way than if id listened to people

you need to find your own balance in your breeding room your own way i never mark eggs

I never mark eggs. I write the dates they are laid on a card on the box.

I have a little thing I go by , When the third egg is layed the first egg should be showing signs of fertility. I have been checking this for years and now I dont even wait , I throw the first egg if there are no fertile signs after the third egg is layed.

 

I'd be careful with that rule. I have a hen who didnt sit until the 5th of 12 eggs were laid. All eggs were fertile but the first did not show signs until the 6th egg was laid.

I have the dates written on a card as well. It sits on top of the nest box. I was just wonering if I should mark th eggs (maybe a little number) so I can tell which is which when there are say, 4 of them.

 

I'll keep that in mind Dean. I have no intention of disposing of the eggs until I'm absolutely certain

I have a little thing I go by , When the third egg is layed the first egg should be showing signs of fertility. I have been checking this for years and now I dont even wait , I throw the first egg if there are no fertile signs after the third egg is layed.

 

I'd be careful with that rule. I have a hen who didnt sit until the 5th of 12 eggs were laid. All eggs were fertile but the first did not show signs until the 6th egg was laid.

 

I will agree with you Dean, Thats what I love about this Hobby , There are so many ways to breed birds , look after them , close kept secrets, ETC, its an endless wonder.

As long as someone has a relative reason for their actions and their not spining S***, we can all learn and enjoy the breeding and keeping of Budgies through or experiences.

For me If I had a hen that did that , I would have fostered out the first 5 eggs , its all about knowing your birds Individually.

Doormat laid her 4th egg yesterday. She is being very stubborn in incubating her eggs which I like, as when i opened the lid to the nestbox she would just give me the "Close the d**n door" look

 

As for fertility, i figured I was being too impatient with the eggs, and I don't think she was incubating them up until the 3rd was laid. And the 3rd egg has a good 4 day gap between the 2nd, so I gave them a couple of days before I candled them again.

This morning, I waited for doormat to leave the nest of her own accord and candled the eggs. Out of the 4, 2 are visibly fertile. They have a red glow to them (I now know what you mean) while 2 are still clear. However one was only laid yesterday so it could be 3/4 for all I know But for my first breeding experience I'm happy with that outcome.

Good news about the fertile eggs

just let her do her thing now as the more you fiddle with eggs the more chance they have of being addled great news

good luck on them all arriving :}

it is hard, especially for the first time breeder, but you do need to take a step back and let her lay some eggs and incubate in piece. Checking chicks noona nd night is essential, but do not spook the hen into not laying and incubating.

hey dave its hard for me too :{ im worst for making hen addle eggs i get so exited some pairings i get fertile eggs one hatches then i check so much i kill rest clutch :{ i have to band myself from checking sometimes :{

I find myself standing outside the aviary really asking myself if I should check or not. I usually make myself walk away which is good. I trust Doormat that she knows what she's doing.

 

Also, this particular pairing is quite exciting for me too GB. Not only is it my first, but it's with my beautiful YF Sky Opaline Dominant Pied cock. I CANNOT wait for the babies to arrive

While hens are egglaying you need to check the hen daily to be sure she doesnt become eggbound. Check the nest every two days as eggs are due.

Once chicks arrive you check the nests morning and night.

Thats one thing I fret, her being eggbound. But I sit in the aviary and wait for her to come out of the nest (rather than scaring the **** out of her in the nest) to check her, morning and afternoon. I'm also keeping a close watch on the poos so I know when she's close to laying

 

Breeding is very technical isn't it? I wouldn't call it work, but it does require a lot of your attention.

 

Also, I took a stab at trying to predict what will be the product of these birds. Tell me if I'm right.

 

YF Sky Opaline Dom Pied x Normal Sky = 50% Dom Pieds, 50% YF, Opaline Hens

 

I am still getting the hang of genetics so if this is completely wrong, then go ahead and call me out on it Especially on the opaline part.

 

I'm sure everyone was a bit confused on genetics when they were starting out though.

25% Yf blue pied

25% YF normals

25% Blue normals

25% YF blue normals

 

all hens Opaline

all males split for Opaline.

 

you did great. I just detailed it out for the %'s.

Thanks heaps Nerwen Especially for the specifics

 

Mostly YF's. I like those odds